Thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines



Dc. 15, 1931. BERGER 1,836,895

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 51, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l i III gwventoz I abfozweqs J. BERGER Dec. 15, 1931.

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 51, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES JOSEPH BERGER, OF U'JJICA NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 UNION SPECIAL MACHINE PATENT OFFICE COM- PANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLInoIs THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Application filed May 31,

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in thread controlling mechanisms for sewing machines, and more particularly to a thread controlling mechanism having a rotating controller with a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member.

An obj ct of the invention is to provide a thread controlling mechanism of the above type having thread guides, one of which is located within the path of rotation of said projecting surface and the other of which is located without said path of rotation, with means for supporting said thread guides whereby the same may be shifted circumferentially about the axis of rotation ofthe controlling member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thread controlling mechanism of the above type wherein the inner thread guide is shiftable longitudinally of the axis of rotation of the thread controlling element for rendering the same accessible for threading.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a thread controlling mechanism of the. above type having thread guides which are shiftable circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the thread controlling member wherein a thread retainer and a thread castoil are associated with the controlling memher and mounted for circumferential adjustment about the axis of rotation of the controller. I

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of llnstration one embodiment of the invenion Fig. l is a plan View of a portion of a sewing machine having the thread controlling mechanism embodied therein.

Fig. is an enlarged view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the thread controller.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

i ig. l is a plan view of a portion of the thread controlling. mechanism showing the 1928. Serial No. 281,878.

inner thread guide moved to position for threading.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the outer thread guide.

The invention is directed to a thread controlling mechanism for-sewing machines of the type wherein the thread controlling element is mounted for rotation The thread controlling element is providedwitli a cylin drical peripheral projecting flange which extends laterally from the supporting member therefor so as to overhang the axis of rotation of the member. The free edge of this cylindrical projection is cam-shaped and is the active element which moves the thread for taking up and giving up the thread during the stitch formation. Associated with the thread controlling cam are thread guides,

one of which is located within the peripheral flange and the other of which is outside of the peripheral flange, so thatv the thread running from one thread guide to the other is positioned so as to be engaged by the projecting cams on the controlling member. Thesethread guides are both mounted on a collar carried by a stationary sleeve located coaxially with the axis of rotation of the thread controlling member. This collar is capable of being adjusted about the sleeve and thus provides means for circumferentially adjusting the thread guides about the axis of the thread controller, for positioning the thread guides in different set positions. The inner thread guide is mounted on said collar so that it can be swung outwardly from beneath. the projecting flange of the thread controlling element for threading and means about the axis of rotation of the controlling element without disturbing the set position of the thread guides.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine which includes a supporting frame 1 in which is mounted a rotating shaft 2, which in the presentembodiment of the invention is the main actuating shaft, and from this main actuating shaft the various parts of the stitch forming mechanisms are operated. So far as the present invention is concerned, any rotating shaft in a sewing machine may be used as the actuating means for the improved thread controlling mechanism. Mounted on this shaft 2 is a thread controlling member 3. This thread controlling member 3 in cludes a hub portion 4 which is fixed to the shaft by a set screw 5. Extending outwardly from the hub portion is a disc 6. The disc 6 is provided with two laterally projecting cylindrical flanges 7 and 8. These flanges 7 and 8 are formed at different radial distances from the axis of the shaft and are spaced from each other as indicated ir. the drawings. The flanges are similarly shaped and each flange is provided with cut away portions so as to form projecting cams which engage the thread for taking up and releasing the same.

These flanges overhang the axis of rotation of the thread controlling member. Associated with the flanges is a thread guiding member 9 having in the present embodiment of the invention, two thread guiding eyes 10, 10. The thread guiding eyes are located back from the outer surface of the member in which they are formed and said member is provided with narrow slots leading to the thread eyes so that the thread which is to be guided by the eyes may be inserted in the eye through said slot. Carried by the member 9 is a bar 11 underneath which the threads may be passed and this bar assists in retaining the threads in the eyes 10, 10. This thread guiding member is disposed outside of the thread controlling member and is positioned so as to be directly over the flange at all times. The thread guiding member 9 is mounted at the outer end of an arm 12. This arm 12 is secured to a collar 13;- The arm projects outwardly in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the thread controlling member to a point well beyond the thread controlling cams. The arm is bent so as to extend in a radial direction away from the of rotation and is then bent so as to extend in the general direction of the axis of rotation and support the thread guides in the manner stated above.

This collar 13 on which the outer thread guide is mounted is a split collar having proj ecting ears through which a clamping screw 1a passes. This split collar is mounted on a sleeve 15 which surrounds the shaft 2. The sleeve 15 carries a housing 16 which is formed integral therewith. This housing is held from rotation by means of a pin 17 carried by the frame of the machine and extending into a slot 18 formed in the housing. T he housing is for the purpose of enclosing the operating cam for the nipper springs, which nipper springs are indicated at 19 in the drawings. This housing and related nipper springs form no part of the present invention, except as the housing holds the sleeve stationary on which the thread guides are mounted. Also associated with the thread cont-rolling member is an inner thread guiding member 20. This inner thread guiding member 20 is provided with two thread eyes 21, 21, setback from the face of the thread guiding member and said thread guiding member is provided with slots leading to the thread eyes. This is for the purpose of rendering the inner thread guide self-threading. The thread guiding member 20 is provided. with a projecting curved end 22. By laying the thread against the curved face of this projecting member, it may be moved along the curved face and through the slot into the thread guiding eye. The thread guiding member 20 is carried by an arm 23 which is pivoted at 24 to a lug 25 fixed tn th 1 13 on which the outer thread guide is mounted. The arm 23 is provided with a. laterally projecting portion 26 which carries a hand piece 27. This hand piece projects upwardly to a point w iere it is readily accessible to the operator through a suitable opening in the upper portion of the frame. The operator through the hand piece can swing the thread guiding member 20 about its pivotal support so as to position the thread guiding eyes 21. 21 well out from beneath the overhanging flanges 7 and 8, as shown in Fig. l, and also in broken lines in Fig. 8. In this position the inner thread eyes can be readily threaded. The operator then by manipulating the hand piece 27 returns the thread guide 20 to its normal operating position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

Mounted on the collar 13 is a spring arm 28. Said arm :28 is secured to the sleeve by means of a clamping screw The curves outwardly and is provided with a raised projection 30. This spring arm lies directly beneath the thread guide supporting arm 23. Said thread guide supporting arm has a recess 31 in its under face. hen the parts are in normal position for operation the projection 30 engages this recess 31 and this will yieldingly hold the thread guide 20 in its operating position. Pressure on the hand piece 27 will swing the arm 2-3 about the pivot 24 and the projection 30 will pass off the edge of the arm 28 and hold the thread guide 20 yicldingly in position for threading the eyes therein.

From the above it will be noted that both the inner thread guide 20 and the outer thread i controllingcams move.

guide 9 are mounted on this split collar 13. By'loosening the clamping screw 14: the collar may be shifted about the axis of rotation of the thread controlling member and thus the thread guides circumferentially shifted relative to said axis. This provides for the shifting of the thread guides circumferentially about the axis of rotation of'the thread controlling member and for securing said thread guides in their various set positions.

Associated with the thread controlling member is a cast-off 32 and a. retainer 33.. The cast-oft and retainer are both mounted on an arm 34 formed integral with a sup porting collar 35 which is clamped to the sleeve 15 by means of a clamping screw 36. By loosening the clamping screw 36, the collar 35 may be shifted about the axis of rotation of the thread controlling member and thus the retainer and cast-off shifted circumferentially and secured in different set positions. This collar carrying the castotf and retainer can be adjusted independently of the collar for the thread guides and likewise the collar for supporting the thread guides may be adjusted independently of the collar supporting the retainer and cast-off.

The thread passes from the pp y nipper springs 19. From the nipper springs, the thread passes to the inner thread guide and thence to the outer thread guide, Between the inner and outer thread guides the The controlling cams will be brought into engagement with the thread. and will carry the thread along with them until the cast-off engages the threads and casts them off from the projecting cams. The retainer will retain the cast off threads giving the threads up slowly to the stitch forming elements. This particular type of thread controlling element with the cast-oil, retainer, and inner and outer thread guides i 1 forms no part of the present invention but is shown described and claimed in the application, Serial No. 715,421, filed May 23, 1924 by James R. Mofiatt. The present invention, as noted above, has to do with the mounting of the thread guides and the castoff and retainer. By shifting the thread guides circumferentially of the axis of rotation of the thread controlling element the time interval in the cycle of operation of the machine at which the thread is engaged by axis of rotation they may be adjusted and repositioned without varying their position radially relative to the axis of rotation and thus in a large measure the adjustments of these parts afiect the timing of the operations without changing the character of the thread take up and giving up actions. Furthermore, it will be noted that both the inner and outer thread guides are mounted on the same split collar and, therefore, when one is adjusted the other is adjusted with it, and inasmuch as the outer thread guide is further removed from the axis of rotation than the inner thread guide these guides when they are shifted from one set position to another will always remain in the same relation to each other radially of the controlling element. While the thread controlling mechanism is shown as applied to a shaft intermediate the ends thereof it will be understood that it may be applied at the end of the shaft as shown in the Motfatt application.

It is obvious that minor. changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion, a support for said thread guides, and means whereby said support may be adjusted circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the controlling member for varying theset position of thethread guides.

2'. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said-overhanging portion, a support for said thread guides, means whereby said support may be adjusted ,circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the controlling member for varying the set position of the thread guides, and means whereby the inner thread guide may be moved from beneath the overhanging portion for rendering the same accessible for threading.

3. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion, and means whereby said inner I it) thread guide can be moved longitudinally of the axis of rotation from beneath said overhanging portion to render the same accessible for threading.

4. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally proj ecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion, a support for said thread guides, means whereby said sup port may be adjusted circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the controlling member for varying the set position of the thread guides, means whereby the inner thread guide may be moved from beneath the overhanging portion for rendering the same accessible for threading, and yielding means for holding said inner thread guide in normal position beneath the overhanging portion.

5. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhangin portion, means whereby said inner thread guide can be moved longitudinally of the axis of rotation from beneath said overhanging portion to render the same accessible for threading, and yielding means for holding said inner thread guide in normal position beneath the overhanging portion.

6. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion means for supporting said thread guides, a cast-off and a retainer associated with said thread controlling member, and means for supporting said cast-off and retainer whereby the same may be adjusted circumferentially about the axis of rotation to different set positions, said support for the thread guides and said support for the cast-off and retainer being independent of each other and capable of inde pendent coaxial adjustments.

7. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally proj ecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion, a stationary member mounted coaxially with said controllingmember, a split collar supporting said thread guides and mounted on said stationary member and adjustable circumferentially about the same.

8. A thread controlling mechanism'for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other with out said overhanging portion, a stationary member mounted coaxially with said controlling member, a split collar supporting said thread guides and mounted on said stationary member and adjustable circumferentially about the same, said inner thread guide being pivotally supported on said c0llar whereby said thread guide may be swung from beneath the overhanging portion for threading.

9. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion, a stationary member mounted coaxially with said controlling member, a split collar supporting said thread guides and mounted on said stationary member and adjustable circumferentially about the same, said inner thread guide being pivotally supported on said collar whereby said thread guide may be swung from beneath the overhanging portion for threading, a yielding spring arm having a projection adapted to engage a recess in the support for the inner thread guide for holding said thread guide in normal position beneath the overhanging portion.

10. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotating thread controlling member having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the axis of rotation of said member, thread guides located one within and the other without said overhanging portion, a stationary member mounted coaxially with said controlling member, a split collar supporting said thread guides and mounted on said stationary member and adjustable cir cumferentially about the same, said inner thread guide being pivotally supported on said collar whereby said thread guide may be swung from beneath the overhanging portion for threading, a cast-off and retainer associated with said thread controlling member, a collar carrying said cast-off and retainer mounted on said stationary member for adjusting the cast-off and retainer circumferentially about the axis of rotation independently of the adjustments of the split collar carrying the thread guides.

11. A thread controlling mechanism for sewing machines including a rotatable shaft, a thread controlling member mounted on said shaft and having a laterally projecting thread engaging surface overhanging the shaft, a stationary sleeve surrounding the shaft and extending beneath said overhanging portion, thread guides located one within and the other Without said overhanging portion, a split collar mounted on said sleeve and carrying said thread guides, said split collar being circumferentially adjustable about said sleeve, a cast-oil?" and retainer associated with said thread controlling member, a collar carrying said cast-off and retainer independently mounted on said sleeve for circumferential adjustment.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOSEPH BERGER. 

